2012 NFL DRAFT:

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With the 16th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the San Diego Chargers select Larry English, OLBPositives: Solid linebacker build, with more than adequate upper-body strength and legs for the position. Good motor, hustles down or across the field until the play is completed, even if initially blocked. Changes direction in space well. Secure wrap-up tackler when man is in his area. Can use his arms to keep linemen and fullbacks off him when standing up. Stays balanced and upright most times on stretch plays. At times he can bounce off a block using his punch. Has quick, violent hands to stay free. Stays at home on option plays until last possible moment. Able to drop back off the line in zone blitzes and stay with tight ends. Strong week of practice at the Senior Bowl eliminated many of the concerns regarding English's level of competition.

Negatives: Lacks the bulk to play with his hand down in the NFL, which he did in college. Gets engulfed by better left tackles on inside pass rush moves, lacks the strength to bull rush and doesn't quite have the speed to get the corner consistently (but has good closing speed when standing up). Fails to hold his ground when directly out of his stance and can't get off the block quickly enough to get to the ball. Will need to prove he can handle coverage duties against better tight ends and that he has zone awareness. Needs to get lower in his backpedal, as he stands a bit tall.

Compares To: ANTHONY SPENCER, Dallas -- Some draft experts claim Larry English is the next Shawne Merriman, but that's a stretch at this point. As a pass rusher, he shows great tenacity, but that seems to be the only consistent aspect of his game. There are too many contests where he got lost in too much trash talk and isn't much of a factor. As an athlete, you have to be impressed with his power, but one look at his clocked speed makes you be concerned that he won't be able to drop back and handle speedy slot receivers outside the short area.

Copyright NFLDraftScout.com, distributed by The Sports Xchange.

Thoughts to follow, in the meantime, vote and drop a comment to let us know what you think:

April 25, 2009

50
comments:

This makes no sense to me. With two potential impact players still on the board in the OT Oher and ILB Maleuga, why take an insurance pick in English? Only way this makes sense is if the Chargers know that Merriman's knee isn't as healthy as we think or they have no intention of resigning him after next year. Do not like this pick.

Do not like this pick fellow bolt fans. AJ had a shot to get one of two impact players or immediate starters in OT Oher and ILB Maleuga. Instead he goes for the insurance pick in English, a good player, but not an immediate starter. The only way this pick makes sense is if they know that Merrimans kness is not doing well or they have absolutely no intentions of resigning him after next year. I do not like this pick.

Love this pick right here. English has a motor that will not stop, if rushing the quarterback was a problem last year without Merriman, you no longer have to worry. AJ continues to amaze me the way he identifies talent and then has the gut to go for it. Rey M. will be a great pick, especially where he is gong to be drafted now, but I think the steal of the first round will be English. Mark my words he will be a beast!

dude, i dont give a shit about our rushing. The only problem with our defense is we need guys like Merriman who can bulldoozer. RAY WOULD HAVE FIT PERFECT. He bring the attitude we need. GOd dammit AJ. After this year, he is done. FUK him. I hope we trade up to take RAY. PLEASE

people get over your rey maualuga man crush....he is a two down lb and chargers need a complete player...why has everyone else passed on maualuga?? how could he be good value at 16 if everyone else passes on him?? ayers is a one year wonder, and that typically doesn't pan out. the teams that do the best job at getting talent don't pay attention to combine but get players who are productive in college. english was productive in college.. this also doesn't mean 56 is gone it means phillips is on notice....get over the man crush, at that spot english was bpa and provided best value

I agree with everyone who left comments about AJ as moron. I was exciting to see no one pick Rey Maualuga, then all of sudden the name appeared as "Larry English". Huh? I check the ebay to find if there is any card issued for Larry English. Larry English: 5 in ebay and none of them are cards. Rey Maualuga: 180+ in ebay and about 150+ are issued as card by Press Pass and Sage. That's something!

I agree with one anonymous that we need to trade up to grab Rey Maualuga as he still available. If not, AJ better wipe his butt after the season over.

A sound, if not necessarily inspiring, choice. Super-Trojan Rey M. supposedly has "character issues" and ironically may be viewed with suspicion as an NFL standout because he had so many OTHER awesomely skilled players surrounding him (i.e. subtraction by addition). But English IS a strong character guy with that all-important non-stop "motor" that may (?) make him a good player that can evolve into a Great player (examples: Seau, Singletary, Taylor), and the Charger's obviously showed a great need for a mobile LB who was big enough to stop the run too. Personally, I thought Michael Oher would have been an equal or better pick (and where the need is even stronger), but our lack of quality defense has kept our Chargers out of the Super Bowl for years now, and in the 4-3 you NEED to generate a pass rush from the more mobile linebackers, or else. English's highlights did look good..., but those are from college games. Unfortunately, physical dominance in combines and college games doesn't often transfer into the NFL, where the faster synapses' times usually determine the winner. Now we still need a top lineman, but with no more draft choices today..., Oy!? A.J. will need to be both Lucky AND Good to get this '09 draft to deliver.

There you goes, Rey Maualuga goes to Bengals. No need to waste any trade for second round. Let's go home as nothing's here. Tomorrow will be new day with seven more picks. Let's see how many more AJ will screw up.

We should trade up and get the DE out of Florida State. Everetter Brown. He will be super motivated to prove the teams that passed up on him made a mistake. This is a chance to get another pass rusher that can also line up at DE on passing downs... Make it happen AJ. Redeem yourself!

I am not worried about this pick at all English is a DE LB hybrid just the type of versatility you'd want plus we signed Burnnett in the off season to add depth in the middle. These are the upsides of English: 4 year starter, athletic enough to zone drop, smart and competiitve, NIU's career sacks leader a team captain and great intangibles. sounds good to me

come on girls calm down! This now means we have added a new beast to the jungle (how many backers does pitt have? ladies) merriman can come from anywhere now FOOLS!!! outside, inside you name it. your lack of ball knowledge and scheme is RIDICULOUS!!!

I'm ok with this. With Williams aging, we have a lot to think about in future years, and we'd rather not have to think about it this year. If we can get a replacement 3-4 NT in time, this is insurance in case anything happens to Merriman or Phillips. He can spend two years on the bench, and step in after Merriman leaves in '11, or if needed before. If we can't get a 3-4 NT before Williams goes down, we can move Merriman or English up to end and play in a 4-3. I think this was a very clever pick. I hope he turns out.

Can he gain a little weight? He's a little undersized to man either a 4-3 DE or a 3-4 Sam position.

As much as I wanted to see Rey Maualuga wearing lightning bolts, there's a reason why he dropped like a stone into the 2nd round.. Look on the brightside, Larry English will help provide a Potent PassRush and make the secondary a much better unit in 2009!!!

I was really pissed off with this pick but i soon realized it's value. English provides a nice pass rusher with philips and merriman. Their was a reason maualuga passed down to the 2nd round. English will look good in a chargers uniform too!!

He's going to be another Merriman. And Merriman isn't going anywhere for at least two years. He'll get franchised. Phillips is not that good. He'll have to improve or he's the one that's going. With English and Merriman rushing and Burnett covering the tight end and Cromartie bouncing back from his injury, that defense now has potential. But we need to get a tackle tomorrow, just some big beefy guy who can stop the run on first and second down.

look how aj's picks have done the last couple of years, you guys all bagged on cason last year, and he is looking to have a bright future, marcus mcniel is proven, and we will see about cro. This pick as well won't do so much damage on our salary cap which is greatly needed next year

This guy is a STUD!! AJ is right as far as the major need right now with the talent he has..They can score alright, but can't stop a drive when it counts.. If you can't stop a drive when it counts, like the chargers have for years because the QB has all day, then you don't go to the big show, Ever!

At first, I wasn't sure about this pick but the more I learn about this guy, the more I like him. It's not our secondary that needs help, it's the pass rush. Last year, we just couldn't stop opponents on 3rd down because the QB had too much time to throw. Merriman and Phillips are both solid linebackers who are good pass rushers and good in coverage. Adding another pass rusher allows them more flexibility, letting either Merriman or Phillips drop into coverage without it affecting the pass rush. I know some of you were hoping for a replacement for Igor but remember, he barely played last year anyhow. Rey Maualuga is not a 3 down linebacker and will not be a big improvement over Dobbins. Rookie safeties will need time to develop so the Chargers ready to win now, they are better off picking up a veteran like Mike Brown. Paul Oliver also showed some play-making ability towards the end of last year. Go Chargers!!!

Pressuring the passer was the key to our success in 07, missing that in 08 hurt us bad. English's specialty is getting after the QB...with less time for QBs to throw, our D picks up. Merriman is probably gonna leave after 2 more years, so this could be a good pick. AJ wanted Moreno but he was gone at 12, so we went LB. Maualuga dropped like 22 picks after 16, so stop bitching about not having him. Give Larry a chance...

For all those in doubt of this pick let me tell you, your in for a surprise. The kid was a beast in high school got better and bigger in college and will continue to better himself in the pros. He isn't driven by fame and fortune but rather love of the game. Seeing this kid work up to this point first hand leaves me with no reservations. When he says he is going to do anything for this team I assure you he will. The kids a class act with a great career ahead of him. Go Chargers!!!

With all the draft grades being handed out, I thought I could ask for your opinions on my hypothetical draft vs. how our team actually drafted. (Note: I only selected players that were still available on the board at the time the Chargers were picking.)

My draft

Round 1 - Jeremy Maclin, WRThe best player on the board at the 16th pick. Obviously this is more about value than need, but its the same rationale used in picking up WR Demetrius Byrd with the our 7th round pick in the actual draft. Maclin is the 2nd best player at his position in the draft and 11th overall pick. At the very least, he provides a long-term solution for Chambers, a compliment to Jackson, and an insurance policy against Bust-er Davis.

Analysis (from NFL.com)

Positives: Tight-skinned athlete. Good overall musculature. Explosive straight-line speed and quickness out of his breaks. Agile. Can make defenders miss in tight quarters. Natural playmaker who is a threat to score - from any distance - on every snap. Versatile athlete who can make plays in the running, receiving or return games. Natural pass catcher. Good body control to contort in space and make the spectacular reception. High-points passes and is an explosive leaper. High effort player. Courageous over the middle. Blocks downfield. Showed mental toughness in returning after a horrific knee injury in 2006.

Negatives: Still developing as a route-runner. Relies on his athletic ability at this point, and doesn't explode out of his cuts as well as he could. Will takes his eyes off the ball, on occasion, to prepare to make the defender miss, and drop the ball. Production inflated due to his role and the presence of other playmakers in this offense.

Round 3 - Lawrence Sidbury, DE/OLBAnother hybrid DE/OLB pass rusher in the same mold as Larry English. Similar build. Comparable (if not better) overall measurables at the Combine. Even if the perception is that English is better, it is only marginally so. The bottom line is that the value gained by picking Sidbury in the 3rd vs. English in the 1st is far greater than the difference than each player's respective grades.

Analysis

Positives: Solidly built athlete with room for additional mass, especially in his upper body. Long arms. Flashes initial quickness off the snap to pressure the outside. Good lateral quickness to redirect back to the inside if he senses the tackle leaning outside. Good hand placement and use of leverage to bull rush the tackle into the pocket. Can close quickly with an open lane. Good effort in pursuit. Helped himself with a solid week of practice at the East-West Shrine Game.

Negatives: Lacks the height and bulk in his lower body most teams prefer in a defensive end. Marginal strength at the point of attack and can be targeted in the running game. Likes to run around blocks in space, rather than take them on and discard. Lacks explosiveness off the snap and is often late.

Compares To: HUGH DOUGLAS, ex-Philadelphia -- Sidbury could also be compared to Philadelphia's Trent Cole and Denver's Elvis Dumervil. They all might lack the size you look for in a 4-3 defensive end, but all have been able to compensate for that deficiency with their long wing span and explosion off the snap. Some scouts compare him to the Colts' Dwight Freeney, but Sidbury is not that fast or explosive and has shown more consistent leverage as a run defender at this stage in his career. His style of play is similar to that of Douglas, in that he uses leverage and natural power to defeat bigger blockers but can also pick up sacks in bunches with effort.

Round 4 - Jamon Meredith, OTMulti-positional o-lineman that could initially push/replace Clary or Forney on the right side as well as spell McNeill on the left.

Analysis

Positives: Good height with long arms and an athletic build, typical of top-tier left tackles. Adequate punch, and will extend his arms and get his hands on the numbers to keep defenders at bay. Gets to linebackers at the second level very well and hits the moving target. Able to adjust to oncoming defenders in space. Positions himself to seal the edge using quick feet and good hand placement. Can cut-block ends on his side to give the quarterback a lane on quick throws.

Negatives: A bit slow to move his feet at times, relying on his length too much. Other times he drops back too far, allowing the end to twist inside untouched. Plays a bit tall in pass protection. Struggles to reach down to block to the guard when he doesn't explode from his stance. Could sustain blocks better in space.

Round 4 - Duke Robinson, OGThe consensus 2nd best Guard in the draft. No doubt slipped because he injured himself at the combine, but a great value in the 4th round. Adds depth to the position after the departure of Mike Goff and also has the size to kick outside to Tackle.

Analysis

Positives: Massive player who can engulf defenders and physically dominate his opponent. ... Good initial quickness off the snap to get out and block on the move. ... Good drive blocker with excellent size and strength. ... Plays with good leverage despite his height. ... Can generate movement at the point of attack in short-yardage situations. ... Plays with some nastiness and has the raw power to turn and pancake his opponent. ... Quick, strong hand punch to jolt the defender in pass protection. ... Natural knee-bender who plays with good leverage and balance in pass pro. ... Long arms and strong hands to keep the defender at bay.

Negatives: Only marginal balance and lateral quickness to block at the second level, and spends too much time on the ground when trying to block on the move. ... Lack of great quickness shows in pass protection, as he struggles to adjust if his initial punch doesn't slow the defender.

Round 4 - Ricky-Jean Francois, DEWill need to be coached up at the next level, but has the size and physical tools to succeed. Probably to raw to start immediately, but, can likely be groomed to replace Igor as a 5-technique DE in our 3-4. Again, great value for a compensatory pick in the 4th round.

Analysis

Positives: Tall, but can still use leverage to bull rush his man into the pocket. ... Violent with his hands, able to rip off blocks inside to make plays on the ball. ... Impressive in his ability to stand his man up and discard him to either side. ... Rarely gets moved when facing a one-on-one block. ... Moves fluidly down the line, able to eat up a wide running lane with his length. ... Recognizes the screen. ... Imposing figure when closing, will work toward the quarterback if he's in sight. ... Impacts passing lanes and can block kicks using his height and reach.

Negatives: A bit lean for some NFL defensive coordinators, but not considerably light. ... High pad level allows double-team blocks to sweep him aside. ... Inconsistent initial quickness off the snap and he guesses the snap count at times. ... Could hustle and chase the ball more often. ... Not quick enough to keep off a cut block, but recovers well. ... Does not consistently play to his timed speed, lumbering in space and lacking elite stop-start quickness.

Compares To: JON BRADLEY, Detroit -- Jean-Francois has exceptional playing strength, but has failed to live up to his lofty press clippings. He has had academic issues, off-field problems and an overall inconsistent performance on the field. He can easily shed blocks and power through the line, but lacks focus. He runs his mouth more than Warren Sapp, but with 56 tackles in 25 games, it is obvious he can't back up his bold comments. Unless someone feels that they have patient veterans to mentor him, it is doubtful that he will live up to his own opinion of himself.

Round 5 - Michael Hamlin, SSI really like Kevin Ellison, but I believe Hamlin is a truer SS, so I gave him a slight edge for this pick. Maybe this will light a fire under Clinton Hart's ass or maybe Hamlin will just win the job outright.

Analysis

Positives: Rangy player with the frame to add an additional 10-15 pounds of mass. ... Quick to come up in run support. ... Willing to take on blocks to get to the action. ... Reliable tackler in the open field who flashes hitting ability. ... Wrap-up tackler who looks to punch or rip the ball out to create a turnover. ... Instinctive in coverage. Reads the quarterback's eyes and gets a good break on the ball due to his feel for the game. ... Natural hands for the interception. ... Competes for the ball and can time his leap to catch it at its highest point. ... Good vision and elusiveness with the ball in his hands. ... Cerebral player who lines up the Clemson defensive backfield and was voted a permanent team captain as a junior.

Negatives: Questionable straight-line speed. ... Much better with his eyes pointed toward the quarterback, as he lacks the deep speed most teams want as the deep safety. ... Reliable open-field tackler, but lacks bulk and explosive hitting ability to be an intimidator over the middle. ... Durability red flags: broke both feet in his career, missing three games in 2006 after breaking one against Boston College and undergoing postseason surgery after the 2007 season with a stress fracture in the other.

Round 6 - Myron Pryor, DTA little undersized for our ideal NT, but could definitely be used in the rotation to prolong Jamal's career until we can groom his replacement (sign me up for some Terrence Cody in the 2010 draft)

Analysis

Positives: Powerful lower body. ... Good use of his natural leverage and strength to anchor as a run blocker. ... Anticipates the snap count well and flashes some initial quickness to push the pocket. ... Good short-area quickness to make plays at the line of scrimmage. ... Durable.

Negatives: Short, squatty build with little room for additional mass. ... Bit of a one-trick pony. ... Relies on his natural leverage advantage to hold up against the run. ... Marginal upper-body strength and hand quickness to break free of blocks. ... Lacks the consistent initial burst off the snap to operate as a three-technique or the bulk to hold up against double-teams. ... Marginal lateral quickness to pressure the pocket. ... Needs an open lane to close. ... Lacks the height and long arms to bat down passes. ... Suspended for the opening game of the 2007 season due to an undisclosed violation of team rules.

Round 7 - Rashad Jennings, RBCan't believe this kid is still here. You know what, scratch that - Rashad Jennings ain't no kid, this here is a man. Sure, he's not a complete back yet. But he's a big back - 6'1", 231lbs. He's fast - still ran in the 4.6s in the 40-yd despite his size. He strong - 29 reps at 225lbs on the bench (Brian Orakpo, one of the most physical specimens in this year's draft only did two more than Jennings). This is exactly the bruising, short yardage/goal line back we were looking for in Gartrell Johnson except better. And a steal in round 7 vs. Johnson in the 4th. Jennings can get the tough yards and keep the tread off LT and is an entirely different compliment to the running game along with LT and Sproles. This pick would send color commentators scrambling to name the newest 3-headed RB committee.

Analysis

Positives: Good size with well-developed upper body. Played in part-time zone read offense, sometimes in I-formation. Good vision, able to change directions using quick feet. Can stiff-arm and run through tacklers in the open field by lowering his pads. Very good second gear once in the open. Runs tough inside, able to lean forward for additional yards. Looks natural catching the ball out of the backfield. Will keep his feet churning after contact and fight for the first down or goal line. Can hit an inside hole quickly. Surprisingly quick stop-start if the hole is not there immediately.

Negatives: Played against a lower level of competition, although he had one year of experience in the Big East. Runs loose; must consistently keep the ball high and tight to prevent fumbles. Only gets in the way as a blocker, giving marginal effort. A bit stiff in the hips, and is not overly shifty. Runs a bit tall, which will leave him open to big hits in the NFL. Must sink his hips when cutting.

I like English, but would have taken Ayers if I was AJ, because DE is a bigger need than OLB. English is a great pass rusher, and probably will have a great NFL career, but I think Ayers will also. English is a class act, so I am happy we got him, and I think he will be a great Charger and a great addition to San Diego.

ENGLISH IS GOOD BUT I STILL DON'T THINK HES GOING TO TAKE PHILIPS OR MERRIMANS SPOT. UNLESS THE CHARGERS ARE THINKING OF NOT SIGNING MERRIMAN FOR THE FOLLOWING SEASON DUE TO HIS SURGERIES. BUT OTHER THAN THAT I THINK THAT DRAFTING ENGLISH TO THE CHARGERS IS NOT THE BEST IDEA.

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